Sled.



J. c. VAN AKEN.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 52 we G [NVE/VTOR 6.)}; By k Alfomeys COLUMBIA PLANOORAPHCOUWASHINGTONJD. c.

J. 0. VAN AKEN.

SLED. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

Patented May .20, 1913.

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[NI/EN TOR 0.. WASHINGTON D c JOHN c. VAN AKEN, or RLDGWAY,PENNSYLVANIA.

SLED.

Original app1ication filed February 12, 1912, Serial No. 677,086.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1913.

Divided and this application filed May 29,

1912. Serial N0. 700,447.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. VAN AnnN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Ridgway, in the county of Elkand State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new anduseful Improvements in Sleds, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates particularly to sleds of the type having flexiblerunners and provided with means for bending said runners laterally forthe purpose of steering the sled, and has for its object to provide animproved construction or framework for supporting the top or body of thesled from the runners.

The invention will best be understood from the following description ofone form thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which theinvention is shown as embodied in a sled of the character disclosed inmy prior application for Letters Patent, filed Feb. 12, 1912, Serial No.677,086, of which this case is a division. It will be understood,however, that the particular construction described and shown has beenchosen for illustrative purposes merely and that the invention may bee1nbodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view and Fig. 2 a sideelevation of the sled complete. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ofone ofthe inclined braces constituting parts of the frame work. Figs. 4and 5 are detail perspective views, respectively, of one of the crosspieces or bars and one of the uprights forming parts of the framework.Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken through one of the cross piecesor bars immediately adjacent one of the uprights.

12 denotes the runners which are prefer-' ably constructed of steel barssubstantially T-shaped in cross section. Said runners extend parallel toone another and are curved upwardly at their forward ends in the usualmanner, said forward ends being connected by a cross bar 13 pivotedthereto.

The top or body of the sled comprises a suitable platform 14 and a framecomposed of side bars 15 above and normally parallel to the runners 12and rigidly connected at their forward ends by a cross piece 16immediately above and parallel to the bar 13.

The platform is preferably formed with a forwardly extending tongue 26to which is pivoted a link 28 secured to a steering bar 31. Saidsteering bar is connected with the bar 13 by suitable means wherebyturningof said steering bar 31 will result in laterally flexing therunners 12 for the purpose of steering the sled. These connections arenot herein shown or described in detail as they form no portion of thepresent invention and are covered by the claims of my which differencein thickness is provided for by the depressed ends 40 of the bars 17, sothat the upper surfaces of said bars 15 and platform 14 are broughtflush with one another. The channel bars 17 are formed with side flangesor lateral bearing portions 41 which, intermediate the platform 14 andside bars 15, are preferably bent inwardly for short portions of theirlength, forming undercut sections 20 which are substantially triangularin cross section. The uprights 18 as shown also comprise channel barsbent over the bars 17 to form downwardly extending legs, the lower endsof which are provided with cars 23 for attachment to the upstandingflange of the corresponding runner 12. The side flanges 21 of saidchannel bars are cut away as indicated at 22 in order to cause the sameto embrace the portions 20 of the bars 17 with a closely engaging fit.Each of the braces 19 comprises a bar substantially V-shaped in crosssection having at its lower end cars 24 for attachment to thecorresponding runner, and secured at its upper end, as at 25, to thecorresponding side bar 15, preferably by means permitting a slightpivotal movement of said braces wit-h respect to said bars.

The construction herein shown and described provides a framework forsleds of this character which may be easily and cheaply constructed,which is light and strong, and which is possessed of the neces saryrigidity to make the sled safe and durable, while at the same timepermitting the lateral flexibility of the runners incidental to the typeof sled to which it is particularly adapted. It will be seen however,that certain features of this construction are not limited in theirutility to sleds of this particular type, but may, if desired, be usedin sleds having rigid runners and which are steered or controlled inother ways.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sled comprising runners, a top or body, bars extending across saidtop or body and secured thereto and having lateral bearing portions, anduprights each comprising a singlemember bent over one of said bars andhaving a pair of downwardly extended legs secured to said runners, saiduprights being cut away to embrace said bars and closely engage thelateral bearing portions thereof.

2. A sled comprising runners, a top or body, bars extending across saidtop or body and secured thereto and having undercut lateral bearingportions, and uprights each comprising a single member bent over oneofsaid bars and having a pair 01": downwardly extending legs secured tosaid runners, said members being cut away to fit and closely engage saidundercut portions of said bars. i l

3. A sled comprising runners, a top or body, channel bars extendingacross said top and secured thereto and having side flanges bentinwardly for portions of their length to form parts substantiallytriangular in cross section, and uprights comprising channel bars bentover said first named channel bars and having downwardly extendedlegssecured to said runners, said uprights having side flanges cut away tofit and closely engage the triangular portions of said first namedchannel bars.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. VAN AKEN.

Witnesses:

M. P. SI-IANLEY, HARRY V. GILMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i

